WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes University Director of Athletics Scott Musa has announced that Paul VanLuvender has been hired as head coach of the Wilkes men's and women's cross country teams along with the additions of Ashley Mead and Shawn Austin '21 as assistant coaches.

VanLuvender previously served as an assistant coach for the men's and women's teams in the fall of 2022. He also serves as an assistant coach for track and field at Riverside High School in Taylor, Pa. where he provides and assists in the implementation of training programs and setting up and scheduling meets and team practices. He is a positive influence in coaching, and providing guidance in coordinating with the PIAA.

A long time Scranton/Wilkes-Barre resident and native graduating from Riverside Jr. Sr. High School in 1996, he participated in athletics and excelled in football and track and field. He is a graduate of Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pa. with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science. During his tenure at Delaware Valley University VanLuvender played football in the Middle Atlantic Conference at the Division III level. VanLuvender also graduated from Johnson College in Scranton, Pa. with an Associate's degree in Electronics Technology Engineering in 2000.

As an avid runner in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area community VanLuvender is well known, easily recognized, always seen at local races, and has completed many marathons throughout the country. Vanluvender has completed twenty marathons through his running tenure which includes the Boston Marathon in 2018, 2021, and 2022. VanLuvender has a passion for running and fitness, is a hard consistent worker, and always carries the mindset of "fitness first". As of late, VanLuvender has competed in multiple triathlons and Ironman triathlons keeping a well-rounded approach to fitness and distance running.

Being employed with the Department of Defense for 23 years, VanLuvender has provided exceptional contract management and logistics support to the department of the Army and numerous government agencies to include the Defense Contract Management Agency. He provided direct support and leadership to military personnel while deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan during the time period of 2006 to 2010, and in 2017 on behalf of the United States Government. VanLuvender is a progressive leader in his current position as quality assurance specialist providing contract management and oversight in the United States Government.

Mead is passionate about the sport of cross country as herself and her family continue to pursue fitness and running goals. Since becoming a mother, she logs many stroller miles with her son Ronan, which is her proudest accomplishment. Mead's husband competes in triathlons and her step son is a varsity runner for Pittston Area.

Mead was a member of the NCAA Division I cross country and track & field teams at Marquette University (2010-11) and Western Michigan University (2011-14).

Mead graduated as a double major with a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Western Michigan University in December 2014. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago in May 2016.

She attended Marist High School in Chicago, Illinois where she was a four-year cross country/track & field athlete, earning All-State honors.

Mead has served as a volunteer cross country coach at Portage Central High School in Portage, Mich. and a volunteer track & field coach at Marist High School in Chicago, Illinois.

Austin serves as the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Wilkes University, a position he started at in August 2022. He is responsible for recruitment and enrollment of prospective first-year students from 24 PA counties, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Austin's other duties of the position include, meeting with prospective students and their families on-campus during their visit, collaborating with faculty and staff across campus to enhance visit experience for prospective students, traveling to college fairs, high school visits, and regional university events to recruit students, and helping oversee and manage the university's student ambassador program. He also serves as the Staff Advisor for the Wilkes University Black Student Union, a position he began in February 2023.

Austin is a 2021 graduate of Wilkes University with a BA in Communication Studies. He is currently working toward his Masters of Business Administration from Wilkes.

He has served as a track & field assistant coach at Wilkes-Barre Area High School since March 2022 where he assists the head coach with student-athletes during practice, dual meets, and invitationals. Austin has helped oversee a roster of 100+ student-athletes and specifically worked with sprint and mid-distance athletes.

Austin was a member of the Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field team at James M. Coughlin High School from 2013-2015 as he participated in the 400M, 500M and 4X400M Relay and served as a team captain as a senior. He is the indoor 500M school record holder with a time of 1:16.74 that he set at the Bible Baptist High School Invitational in 2015. He was a member of the 2013 and 2015 Wyoming Valley Conference Championship teams. Austin was coached by 2015 Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Paul McGrane.

Both men's and women's squads start the 2023 season on Friday, September 1 at the Misericordia Invitational in Dallas, Pa.